Method and apparatus for concreting piles.



E. W SCOWDEN. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONCRETING PILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. l9l2- Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. w. SCOWDEN. METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONCRETING FILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4. 1912.

1,157,328. Patented 00t.19, k9l5.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

I'IW! UNITED sTAtrEs PATENT orrrcn.

EDWARD W. SCOWDEN, OF FREWSBURG, NEW YORK.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONCRETING FILES.

crete sheathing around piling or other structures, to protect them from the ravages of destructive marine worms and the like, and

for the additional purposes of covering and reinforcing piling and such structures which have become eaten away by such marine worms.

This invention has for its primary object, the adaptation to, and the applying of, concreting in its proper consistency, around the piling at a point below the level of the tide, without the interference of or commingling therewith of the surrounding sea water.

Another object of my invention is to lessen the cost and facilitate the application of the concreting, by the use of labor saving devices in mixing, conveying and depositing the concrete in its position.

These and further objects will more fully appear from the following description, in which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings which show a form of apparatus embodying my said invention, wherein:

Figure 1, represents in side view, a form of apparatus comprising a reinforcing frame with the tubular mold in position therein. Fig. 2, represents a transverse section of the reinforcing frame closed around the mold casing. Fig. 3, is a perspective view, with parts broken away of the reinforcing frame with the tubular mold casing in position therein. Fig. I, is a view of the mold casing and the reinforcing frame, bisected and opened, to facilitate closing around a pile. Fig. 5, shows my application of the concrete discharging apparatus in a connection with the mold casing and reinforcing frame placed around a pile. Fig. 6, is an enlarged view of the bottom end of the casing placed in position, showing the discharging nozzle Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May'4, 1912 Serial No. 695,049.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

with gasket attached thereto in the act of d scharging concrete. Fig. 7, is an enlarged view of an expansible gasket, used in my apparatus. Fig. 8, is an enlarged view of the bottom section of the mold casing showing the jetting tubes.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 represents a section of the tubular mold form, 2 represents a section of the reinforcing and supporting frame, 3 represents the hinge joint of the reinforcing frame which permits the frame to be opened to receive the tubular mold casing, 4 represents the latch by which the sides of the reinforcing frame opposite the hinge are locked together after closing into position, 5 represents the extended flange of the edges of the mold casing which are brought in proper contact with the angle irons 7-7 of the reinforcing frame. For the purposes of supporting and reinforcing the tubular mold sections, I use a suitable frame 2, surrounding the tubular mold into which the concrete is placed as shown in Fig. 5.

In the construction of the supporting frame, the angle irons 7-7, are placed in pairs as shown in Fig. 3, and are so placed in relation to each other, that the inwardly extended angles are so spaced apart as to permit of admitting the flange lips 5, of the tubular mold section to be placed between the inwardly extended faces of the angle irons and therebygripping the flange lips 5, in the closing operation of the reinforcing frame around the tubular mold. For the purpose of centering and supporting the mold casing within the frame, I provide angle irons 6, which set into suitable pockets in the supporting frame.

For the purpose of supporting the tubular mold portion within the frame I provide .angle hooks 8, securely riveted to the tubular.

setting process. sufliciently embedded in the ground formapile, I provide for the low v,tions bisected vertically, the first section being reduced, funnel shaped at its lower end, to fal-ilitate its closing in around the bottom of the pile, and to better pentrate .to bottom formation intowvhich the pile is driven.

One of the objects of 'my invention is to make a contact at the bottom of the pile where the mold'casing penetrates the mud or sand which will exclude the water from coming into the casingfrom below. This penetration may be proi 'idedior by the weight of the tubular casing with the accompanying frame work being-sufficient to cause the tapering end of the tubular casing to penetrate the ground foundation a sufllcient distance to shut off the sea Water, and prevent it pgnetrating the soil and following the surfaceof the pile up into the interior of the mold. Where it is found that the soil formation at the bottom of the pile is of such nature that the tubular casing will not of its own weight, properly penetrate and make a water tight connection, the tubular casing with its frame work attached may be caused to settle into the ground formation by the. application of a jetting process a method well known in the art of marine excavations, and which I avail myself of in the operation of sinking the casing, by providing jetting tubes '12-12 placed along the outside of the casing.

To further facilitate theproper setting of the concrete, and to avoid the intermingling thereof with the salt sea water, I provide a means of evacuating the sea water standing within the mold casing, after the casing has been sunk to the bottom, and filling its place with' fresh water, by means of connecting the discharging hose 13, with suitable source of fresh water supply, and forcing the salt water out of the mold by injecting fresh water underforce, through the hose 13 and discharging it at the lowest point of the mold. I further avail myself of this method of clarifying any water standing within the mold section, by substituting therefor, clean water having no injurious ingredients which in any way alfect or disintegrate the concrete in its After the casing has been tion around the ering of a suitable hose 13, between the easing and the pile by leading the hose 13 from the concrete ejecting apparatus 14, over the sheave 20, suspended from the superstruc ture 22. To the ejectingapparatus 14, suitplied this 'ferent forms power, as an electric motor 15, is apwhich forces the concrete through the able hose 13, and allows the depositing thereof at such point as the nozzle 16, or discharge end of the hose may be applied.

Where it is found essential to provide for a suitable shielding means between the water and the concrete being deposited around the pile, I provide anexpansible gasket 17, through which the terminal of the hose 13 passes by the aperture 19, and gasket is so constructed that it can be opened and placedaroimd a pile, and lowered with the concrete conveying means. As the concrete is forced through the hose and is ejected from the nozzle it will deposit itself around the pile, force upward the gasket 17, separating the concrete from the water, thus maintaining a constant shielding means between the concrete being deposited and the water, which is intended to prevent any agitation of the water above the concrete by which the salt water would commingle with the concrete,

and cause a disintegration thereof or interfere with its proper setting.

As the concrete fills up the space between the mold and the pile,

and in' doing so will the ,water standing 7 in the annular space between the pile in the elevated, and

sea water therewith. 'As the discharge nozzle of the concrete conveying hose, wi1l always be discharging concrete at a point below the elevation of the top layer of con: crete, there will always be a sufiicient thickness of concrete above the-discharge nozzle to keep the sea water from coming in con-- tact with the concrete being deposited from the nozzle. .The amount of the top layer of concrete so formed above the discharge point of the nozzle may be varied by difof nozzle used. As the concrete is thus deposited within the annular space around the pile, and rises to a. point above the level of the tide, such portions of ,the top layer of concrete as may be found to be in any way affected by the salt water, may be removed, and its place filled with properlymixed concrete, which has in no way become affected, or been in contact with the salt water.

It will be seen that one'of the primary 1 objects of my invention, is to place the concrete column around a pile without the commingling therewith of the surroun sea Water, and-in so doing, to utilize suitable conveying means by which this can be accomplished, without the necessity of apply ing hand labor to carry out these objects, and I avail myself of suitable means to accomplish this result.

The length of the tubular casing may be increased by the addition of sections necessary to extend from the mud line to a point above the surface of the water, and the internal diameter of the casing is in excess of the diameter of the pile to such an extent as to provide an intervening annular space to conform with the thickness of the concrete coating to be placed around the pile.

The diaphragm or gasket 17 is of such construction that it may be 0 ened and placed around a standing pile which has already been driven into place and upon which a superstructure is supported. For the purpose of maintaining the proper shape, to the extent of closing around the pile in its proper position an annular shaped spring 18, is placed within the gasket to cause it to adapt itself around the pile, and to adjust itself to the variations in the diameter of the ile, and in contour of the surfaces, so as to substantially fill the annular space in which the concrete is placed, to such an extent as to prevent the sea water from freely commingling with the concrete. The diaphragm or gasket 17, is provided with a beveled lap joint for maintaining the contiguous edges at the lap joint together during the expanding or contracting of the gasket as it is moved over the surface of piles of varying diameters.

Having thus described the various parts of my apparatus, the application of the same is as follows: When a covering of concrete is desired to be placed around a pile or similar support and without removing any parts of'the superstructure resting on said pile, the reinforcing and supporting frame is opened, and placed in proper position by suspending the apparatus by means 'of chains or other suitable means depending from the superstructure. The frame with the tubular mold casing therein, is then closed around the pile and properly fastened. The apparatus is then lowered until the upper end of the mold casing is left projecting sufiiciently above the water line to facilitate placing and suitably connecting another section of the tubular mold casing with the reinforcing frame attached thereto in alinement with the section already in place.

In the apparatus shown, I provide clevises 22 which engage the uppermost annular shape hoop 9, of the section of the supporting frame already in place, and the annular shaped hoop at the lower extremity of the second section of the supporting frame. The

supporting frame with the tubular casings therein is again lowered until the uppermost end thereof protrudes a suflicient distance ing frame, the tubular mold casing, and the jetting tubes, until the lower end of the apparatus has reached the bottom, and a portion of the apparatus still remains above the waterline. When the bottom has been reached, if found to be of such form. as to require jetting, I provide suitable means for forcing Water under pressure, into the jetting tubes 1212, and the lower end of the tubular mold casing is made to penetrate the bottom by the jetting process until a suflicient depth has been reached to insure a close contact between the bottom and the lower mold section to prevent the admission of sea water from below. When this state has been accomplished the hose 13 with the nozzle 16 together with the gasket 17, attached thereto, is placed in the annular space between the tubular mold casing and the pile, and by suitable means is lowered to the bottom of the casing by passing the hose 13 'over a suitable sheave 20 which has been properly attached to and supported from the superstructure 22 resting upon thepile. The sheave 20 is made of sufiicient diameter ii that the hose 13 will not be liable to kink evacuation of the salt water or a suificient diluting thereof, to avoid its disintegrating effect on the concrete. \Vhen this has been accomplished the ejecting apparatus 14 is filled with concrete, suitably mixed and is ejected under power. The apparatus 14, is operated by suitable transmission connecting with motor 15, which is electrically driven from any convenient sources of electric power (not shown).

As the concrete is forced through the hose 13, and is ejected from the nozzle 16, it will deposit itself uniformly around the pile, and as the concrete fills up the annular space between the pile and the tubular casing, the gasket 17 with the discharge nozzle 16 attached thereto, will be automaticallyelevated as the filling of the annular space continues, until the gasket 17 has risen above 'the level of the tide, and automatically discharged the sea water standing in the annular space between the pile and the tubular casing. -To provide for conveying the,concrete mixing and discharging apparatus 14, I provide a suitable lighter or pontoon 21, which can be moved about, between the rows of piling at any position desired.

I do not limit myself to the specific forms of apparatus herein shown as other modifications thereof may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention.

lVha-t I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for forming concrete casings around piles comprising means for providing an annular space around a p le consisting of a mold casing, means for discharging concrete under pressure from a portable discharging apparatus, means for conveying said concrete from the discharging apparatus to the bottom of the p1le, and means for screening the water within the annular space around the pile from the concrete being discharged.

2. The method-of forming the concrete casing around piles, which consists in creating around a pile within the surround ng sea water an annular zone, conveying properly mixed concrete to a point below the surface of the water, shielding the concrete being discharged from the water within the annular zone, and evacuating the annular zone of sea water by replacing it with conc:ete..

3. The method of forming the concrete casings around piles, which consists of creating around a pile within the surrounding sea water, an annular zone isolated from the surrounding sea Water, conveying concrete through a flexible conduit to the bottom of the pile, extending the concrete to a point above the level of the tide, and screening the concrete from the water during said operation.

4. An apparatus of the character de scribed, comprising an annular mold around a pile means for extending said mold to the bottom of the pile, means for discharging concrete under pressure from a portable discharging apparatus, a flexible conduit leadingfrom said discharging apparatus to the annular mold, and screenmg means adapted for vertical movement separating the Water within said mold from the concrete therein.- 7 p -5. The method of formingaconcrete casing around a pile'which consists in creating around the pile within the surrounding sea water an annular zone, evacuating the sea water from said zone by filling said zone with fresh Water, forcing plastic concrete under pressure into said zone, and causing the incoming concrete toelevate and discharge the water from said zone.

6. The method of forming a concrete casing around a pile which consists of creating around the pile within the surrounding sea water, an annular zone isolated from the surrounding sea water, evacuating the sea water from said zone, conveying concrete through a flexible conduit to the bottom of the zone andscreening the concrete being discharged from the conduit, from the water' ing around a pile, which consists of creating around the pile within the surrounding sea water, an annular zone isolated from the surrounding sea water, evacuating the sea water from within said zone by filling said zone with fresh water, conveying through a flexible conduit to the bottom of the zone and screening the concrete being discharged therein'from the water within' said zone.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a supporting.

frame, a sectional tubular casing encircling a pile, means for extending said tubular casing to the bottom of the pile, jetting means for sinking said casing into the ground formation, means for substituting fresh Water for salt water standing Within said casing, a portable conduit extending 'within said casing to the bottom thereof, with means for discharging concrete through said conduit to fill said casing, and thereby automatically forcing the Watertherefrom.

10. The method of forming a concrete casing around a pile which consists in creating around a pile within the sea water, an annular zone,-extending said zone to a point below the exterior surface of the ground formation into which the pile is. driven,

evacuating the sea water from said zone by a replacement thereof of fresh water and filling said zone with plastic concrete.

v 11. The method of forming a concrete casing around a pile which consists in creating around a pile within the surrounding sea water, an annular zone, extending said zone below the ground formation, evacuating the sea water from said zone by filling said zone with fresh water, placingplastic concrete at a point within saidzone below the surface of the water, and discharging the concrete Water from said zone by the concrete filling lowering means, sea water evacuating means,

and means for removing the molding means after the concrete has received its initial set.

13. An apparatus for forming'concrete casings around piles comprising means for creating an annular zone around a driven pile, means for extending said zone into the ground formationv into which the pile is driven, means for depositing under pressure plastic. concrete under the column of water within said annular zone and means for shieldingthe water from the concrete during said depositing operation.

14. In an apparatus of the-character described the combination of means for isolating an annular zone within the sea water surroundmg a driven p1le, means for deposltmg concrete under pressure under the columns of Water Within said annular zone, and means for screening the column of water from the concrete during the concrete depositing operation.

15. In an apparatus of the character described the combination ofmeans for isolating an annular zone within sea water surrounding a driven pile, means for extending said zone into the ground formation into which the pile is driven, means for depositing concrete under pressure under the column of Water within said annular zone, and screening means separating said column of water from the concrete adapted for vertical movement during the depositing operation.

In testimony whereof I have afi'ixed my presence of two witnesses. EDWARD W. SCOWDEN. Witnesses:

VIRGINIA A. Gnovnn,

MYRA E. ,GROVER.

signature in 

